bootstrapping

First, I should apologise for the lengthy period between posts. Second, I’ve not kept my promise to post whatever I write. I’ve written heaps but I just haven’t been satisfied that they are finished. I’m sure I’ll get back to them but I’ve been busy.

Today I want to write about bootstrapping. It’s a term that’s originates from the saying “to pick yourself up by your bootstraps”. It’s thrown around a lot in the startup scene. They tend to use the term to describe the period while a business is still developing their minimum viable product (MVP) and the time shortly after.

The bootstrapping that I’m talking about is more to do with developing your toolbox. As you increase your collection of tools, every job becomes easier. You are able to use the right tool for the job instead of whatever it is that you have. The quality of work you produce increases whilst the time it takes to complete the work decreases.

I’ve had this problem before. In my regular non-sabbatical life of a DevOps engineer, I often run into the problem of knowing that the job of ‘x’ would be that much simpler if it could only wait until I’ve finished ‘y’. Obviously that isn’t always possible so ordering tasks is pretty important.

I’m finding the same thing is happening with my wood working. I’ve been unable to work effectively because I haven’t had a work bench. I’ve been unable to build a work bench because my saw is blunt. I could have tried to build it with a blunt saw but I decided it would be better to wait until I could find the correct file to sharpen the teeth and a saw set to set their position.

I feel that I’m very much in the process of bootstrapping my workshop. I’ve been working hard doing things the wrong way and using the wrong tools. Its difficult and uncomfortably but I know that once I’ve got a bench finished and some vices bolted onto it, I’ll find building the next thing far more pleasant and easy.

I’m in my own real life version of Minecraft. Everything is a pain in the arse without a bench, including making a bench.